NYC Pairings: The Gastronome
City Pairings offer thematic itineraries, seasonally adjusted, that answer the six core questions of travel: Where should I stay? What should I do? What should I see? What should I eat? What should I drink? and What should I buy?
NYC Pairings: The Gastronome: is the New York City pairing for those who love food and drink.
A Place to Stay:
Lotte New York Palace
The Lotte, pronounced “Low-Tay,” is no common luxury hotel. More than a century ago it was commissioned by financier Henry Villard as a private mansion. Created by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White fame, it was designed in the neo-Italian Renaissance tradition, after the Palazzo della Cancellaria in Rome. The architecture and interior detail is extraordinary and the midtown Madison Avenue location, just steps from Rockefeller Center, is unparalleled. A visit to the exclusive Rarities @the Lotte could be the highlight of your trip.
Something to Do:
Feast of Jerusalem
18 November 2016 @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met Yotam Ottolenghi, chef, author, and restaurateur
Laila El-Haddad, author and journalist
Maggie Schmitt, author and educator
From the website: An evening of inspired conversation and “Hafla” (family-style feast) with acclaimed chef, food writer, and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi (Jerusalem: A Cookbook) and writers Laila El-Haddad and Maggie Schmitt (coauthors, The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey), highlighting the food and culture of Jerusalem. Guests will enjoy a menu jointly conceived by the three hosts, and prepared under the direction of Ottolenghi, each dish telling a piece of the complex, multilayered story of Jerusalem.
Food Lectures and Book Signings @92Y (Ongoing)
A well-kept “local secret,” the 92nd Street Y is “one of the world’s leading cultural and community centers, dedicated to promoting individual and family development and participation in civic life.” Their events listings read like a “Who’s Who” of American and international arts, entertainment, politics and business. The biggest names will sell out in advance, but many events are available day of if you’re in town and looking for something to do that night.
New York Restaurant Trends: What’s New and Hot
02 November 2016 @92Y
From the website: Food historian Francine Segan leads a discussion about NYC’s food, wine, restaurants, culinary innovations and all things edible. With Dana Cowin, creative director at Chefs Club International, Jessi Singh of the East Village’s acclaimed Babu Ji restaurant, and Will Elliott, bar director for Maison Premiere, 2016 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Bar Program.
Masaharu Morimoto in Conversation with Kate Krader: Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking
10 November 2016 @ 92Y
From the website: Iron Chef Morimoto has a reputation as one of today’s most creative culinary geniuses. Born and raised in Hiroshima, he trained at NYC’s Nobu before opening his namesake restaurant, Morimoto, in Philadelphia. His restaurants now extend from Mumbai to Mexico City. Join him and discover his secrets for making traditional Japanese dishes at home and hear about recipes and techniques from his new book, Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking.
Scandinavian Comfort Food
14 November 2016 @ 92Y
From the website: The doyenne of Scandinavian cuisine – who has cooked for artists such as Elton John, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones – teaches us how to get the most out of seasonable vegetables, give new life to Scandanavian dishes and fit bread-making into our busy lives. Trine Hahnemann draws us into a world of steamed-up kitchen windows, cake parties on deserted Scandinavian beaches and ‘hygge,’ a Danish word with no English equivalent that communicates coziness, relaxation with friends over good food and drink. Join Hahnemann and Clark for a glimpse into the history of sweet baking, with some recipes to go along with it.
Restauranteur Andrew Tarlow and Anna Dunn Discuss “Dinner at the Long Table”
07 December 2016 @ 92Y
From the website: Diner opened in 1999 in a old Pullman Car in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. From there, Marlow and Sons, Roman’s, Reynard and the Wythe Hotel, She Wolf Bakery, Achilles Heel — in all, 6 restaurants, a hotel, a bar and bakery that make up the empire of Andrew Tarlow. It’s a parallel, but no less magnetic world that Andrew, along with Anna Dunn have created in Dinner at the Long Table. Organized around seventeen expansive, inspiring and surprising menus, Dinner at the Long Table is full of recipes to celebrate birthdays, mark the coming and going of seasons, or usher in a new year.
Ina Garten in Conversation with Danny Meyer: Cooking For Jeffrey
31 January 2017 @ 92Y
From the website: Come and be inspired by the Barefoot Contessa’s approach for food made with love as she shares their favorite recipes and stories from their life together. She talks with superstar restaurateur Danny Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, the Founder of Shake Shack and the force behind the legendary Union Square Cafe, Blue Smoke, The Modern, Maialino, Marta, North End Grill, Porchlight and Untitled at the Whitney Museum.
Wine Auctions (Ongoing)
Something to Look At:
The Historic Villard Houses @ Lotte New York Palace
The Madison Room – originally a triple drawing room, it is noted for its marble walls, coffered ceiling, detailed mosaics, stained glass windows, large fireplaces at each end of the room and romantic murals by P.V. Galland.The Gold Room – This two-story Renaissance-style room is almost entirely gold, including gilt ceilings walls and wainscoting and highlighted by music-inspired motifs.
The Drawing Room – Its elegant, old-world ambiance is reflected in carved- walnut, coffered ceilings and walls accented with gold ormolu. Nineteenth-century oil portraits hang on the walls and Italian marble fireplaces flank both sides of the entrance.
The Library – McKim, Mead & White created the cozy Library from two smaller rooms during extensive remodeling in 1910-11. The focal point of the book-lined, carved paneled room is the barrel-vaulted ceiling decorated with rosettes and shields bearing the colophons of famous publishers of the day.
The Courtyard, the grand staircase, the Villard ballroom, and the Reid Salon are other spaces and features worthy of note.
In Food We Trust: The Yum Yum Met Tour
From the website: Yum Yum MET Culinary Art Tour is a delicious journey through the Metropolitan Museum’s food-related artworks.
Something to Drink:
Rarities @The Lotte New York Palace
One floor up from the grand entrance, via a discreet set of stairs, is an equally discreet door bearing a small brass plate that quietly announces one has arrived. A host greets and seats guests at candlelit tables in the entry room or at sofas with low tables in the larger salon referred to as The Red Room. Glass cases filled with bottles bearing exotic labels remind guests that this is far more than a common bar: They are partaking of a drinkable museum. Read more
Somewhere to Eat:
There is no shortage of Michelin-starred restaurants at or near midtown. Here are three in close proximity to the Lotte New York Palace:
Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st
Aquavit
65 E. 55th, between Madison & Park
Jean-Georges
1 Central Park West
Michelin-Starred Restaurants & Bib Gourmands
As a serious foodie, you’re familiar with the Michelin-starred rating system, but did you know about their Bib Gourmands collection? Bib Gourmands are restaurants that serve excellent but more affordable food and drinks within a price range that is set for each market ie. $40 for a two-course meal and a glass of wine. Click on the above link for a map of Michelin-rated restaurants in the five boroughs.
Something to Buy:
Kitchen Art & Letters
1435 Lexington Ave.
Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks – Out of print & antiquarian
28 E. 2nd St.
Korin – Fine Japanese Tableware and Knives
57 Warren St.
ABC Carpet & Home
888 Broadway